Interlocking buckle



. June 23, 1942. w. HILL 2,287,308

INTERLOCKING BUCKLE Fil-ed sept. 6, 1939 1N VENT OR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 23, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,287,308 INTERLocKING BUCKLE William Hill, New York, N. Y. Application September 6, 1939, Serial No. 293,585

1 Claim.

This invention relates to buckles. ticularly, it relates to a novel b-uckle having interlocking parts for holding together the ends of a belt strap or similar article generally used in Wearing apparel or the like and presenting a unitary appearance,

More pari It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a simply constructed, easily operable buckle having interlocking parts adapted to hold firmly the ends of a strap or strip.

Another object of the present invention is to i' provide a new and useful buckle having interlocking parts adapted to :be easily engaged or disengaged and to present a unitary appearance When in interlocking engagement.

Still one other object of the invention is toY I provide a buckle having interlocking parts which when in engagement form a tight lock and cannot slip or slide from each other without manual operation.

Another object of this invention is to provideA can rmly and effectively retain the ends `of a strip or strap.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention generally includes a buckle having a plurality of parts one of which has an opening adapted to accommodate an extending portion of the other part and form an interlocking engagement therewith.

In the accompanying drawing showing Ipreferred embodiments of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a preferred embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Figl 3 is a front elevation view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, hawng its parts in disengagement and ready to be interlocked.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, showing the parts being put into engagement.

Fig. 5 is a detailed top view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental top plan view of a. modication of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig- 7 is a fragmental top plan View of the modicaton shown in Fig. 6 showing the parts of the embodiment being joined together according to thedirection of arrows indicated therein, and

Fig. 8 is a detail partly sectional partly plan view of another modification of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now toFigures 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawing in which like reference characters relate to like parts throughout, my invention comprises a buckle Illhavng a pair of members adapted to be interlocked as will be more specifically described.

One of the members I I known as the male part .or member has Va slightly curved face I2 of any suitable appearance and an inwardly extending upper and lower lip I3 and I4 respectively, `thereby forming a recess I5 on the back portion ,of member II. Y j

3 Pivotall'y mounted in the recess I5 is an angular clamp member I6 provided with oppositely disposed in extensions I1 `and. I8, respectively for fitting into lips I3-and I4 respectively. vIt is to be noted that said member I6 is preferably lbent to form a right angle and has a small serrated end I9 adapted to clamp the end of a strap belt or similar article 20 against the back portion of member Il in recess I5. Furthermore, the other end 2l) of the` clamp member I6 acts as a double check onV the end of the strap 20 to prevent slipping thereof as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, and is slightly indented at 2l in order to release the tight hold on the strap 20 when it is necessary to release the same from its fixed position in the recess I5.r

Integral with and disposed to one side of member II is a post 22 preferably of circular cross section extending the depth of the face I2 of member II. `Said post 22 forms with the main portion of member II a groove 23 in which are mounted one or more lugs 24 radially projecting from the post. It is to be noted that the groove is housed on one side by a slanting wall 25 and on the other by post 22. The post furthermore is a lateral integral extension of member II and is the extreme contacting portion thereof for purposes hereinafter described more fully. It is to be noted that the lower end of post 22 may be of reduced cross section as shown at 26 in Fig. 3 of the drawing to permit easy contacting when member II is being used.

In the buckle as shown, the other or female mem-ber 21 is provided with a slightly curved face 28 preferably coplanar with that of member II so as to present a pleasing appearance when the members are brought together as shown in the `relative interlocked position.

drawing. Member 21 is further provided with inwardly extending upper and lower lips 29 and 30, respectively, forming a recess 3| Adapted to fit in recess 3l is a double acting clamp member 32 of angular construction having oppositely extending pins 33 and 34 respectively, adapted to fit into lips 29 and 30 respectively and permit pivotal swinging of the member in and out of recess 3|. It is to be noted that member 32 may be bent at the pin portions to form a smaller extending portion 36 and a longer extending portion 35. The ends of the extending portions are serrated to form a double acting tight grip on strap 20 as shown in Fig.- 2` of the drawing, when pressed against the rear-wall` 31 of member 21. Also said rear wall 31 is so slanted that the free or extending end.V of belt or strap 20 is set inwardly of the buckle as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing nFemale member 21 is provided adjacent one of its marginal end portions. contacting the male member, with an opening 38 of outline substantially corresponding with post 22 Ato accommodate the same.V The lowerend of said opening is tapered inwardly of its axis forming a flange like abutmentV 39 for. seating the lower end of post 22 and for stopping any further downward movement of post 22 when the members are interlocked. Also, said opening is provided with spaced inserts 40 and 4I respectively for accommodating lugs 24 and keep the members in In this type of buckle the male member is brought with reduced portion 26. of post 22 in direct overhead position-overn opening 38 at an angle less than 180 degrees and slid into position, whereupon the male member is brought outwardly as shown in Fig. 4 and interlocked with the female memberA 21.* j

In Figs. 6 and '1, I show a modification in which male member I I is provided with a post 42 whose cross section is partly circular and partly straight edged, thus permitting the male member I I to be ybrought diagonally into direct engagement with female member 21 as shown in Fig, '1 without refquiring an'initial vertical sliding movement as in the previous embodiment.

A Y In Fig. 8, male member II--is provided with an In accordance with the above detailed description of my invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is to be noted that I provide a novel buckle which is cheap and easy to make, easy to handle and of simple but effective construction. Such a buckle lends attractiveness and neatness to the wearer and conceals any protruding portions of a strap, belt, harness or the like. It is adapted to any type of belt or strap including Suspenders, girdles, working belts used by telephone, telegraph, and electrical wire workers, or by window cleaners. Furthermore, the buckle made in accordance with my invention provides a sure locking engagement with an accompanying ease of adjustment of the cooperative parts. It possesses the advantageous features of insuring strength up to any desired limit, no limitation is necessary of the position of the strap as in the old types of straps having holes or other markings therein. There is an equal support on the entire Width of the belt at all points within the buckle, without any possibility of slippage of the'belt or strap ends. Also, the members of the buckle when in engagement as shown, cannot per se move either up or down or inwardly against the pressure of the body, and provide a unitary device to the observer.

While I have described and illustrated several preferred forms of my invention, it is to be understood thatmodications or alterations as to use, form, shape or arrangement of parts or materials may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Furthermore, the male and female members may be reversed to permit left handed use thereof.

I claim:

In a device of the class described, a buckle comprising two members adapted for interlocking engagement, one of said members being at one end formed with a transverse substantially cylindrical recess therein, the outer edge of the wall abutting said recess being formed with a slanting surface, said wall having a dent provided therein, the second member terminating at one end in a crosswise arranged substantially cylindricallyshaped post adapted to slidably engage said recess, said second member .being formed with a slanting wall and having a recess between the latter and said post, and a lug arranged in said recess Yand abutting the post, said lug being adapted to engage the dent in the rst member, whereby to lock the latter in interengaging position with the second member, and means provided upon each of said members for engaging a strap, substantially as shown and described.

WILLIAM HILL. 

